Carton



April 4, 1939. R E, LQWEY 2,153,333

CARTON Filed March 18, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l 3 Sheets-Sheet April 4,1939,'

R. LOWEY CARTON Filed March 18, 1957 April 4, 1939.

3 R. E. LOWEY CARTON Filed March 18, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr.4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARTON Application March 18, 1937,Serial No. 131,593

8 Claims.

The presentinvention relates to cartons and more particularly to folding.cartons adapted to hold a plurality of separate articles such, forexample, as fruits, vegetables, and other edible materials. I

One object of the invention is to provide a container adapted to be setup by interlocking parts without 'the use of separate securing devicesor special machinery.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container whichmay bepacked through the bottom so that when the container is inverted theuppermost layer of articles packed in the container will present apleasing and attractive appearance through a window formed in the toppanel by the use of a sheet of transparent material inserted in a cutoutin the top panel.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a container of this typeadapted to hold a definite count of edible articles in which sucharticles may be readily packed in graded sizes, the container beingsusceptible of being made up selectively into one of a plurality ofsizes.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvementsand combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the endof the specification. In the drawings: I Fig. l is a perspective view ofa container made in accordance with the present invention, illustratingsame as it appears after it has been packed and placed in a position toeffectively display the contents;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the bottom orclosure end of the'container, being the end through which the containeris normally filled;

Fig. 3 is a. perspective view of the container in a partially set-upcondition; 1

Fig. 4 is a view of the container blank;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of containeradapted to be selectivelyassembled to provide for varying capacities;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, similar to Fig. 5, showing the containerassembled to provide maxi-' mum capacity therein; and

Fig. 7 is a view of the blank of the modified form of container.

The container of the present invention is particularly advantageous foruse in packaging of yieldable materials such as citrus 'fruits, apples,peaches, tomatoes, mushrooms, and similar fruits and vegetables. Due tothe character of the closure of the present container it is particularlywell adapted for the packaging of mushrooms which, after being packedwill generally increase in volume somewhat due to the fact that themushrooms continue to grow for a short 5 time.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the carton, indicated as a whole at Ill,comprises a top panel II and side panels I2, I3, [4 and I5 integral withthe top panel and defined therefrom by score lines 10 as indicated. Thetop panel II preferably has an opening therein which is closed by apiece of transparent material I6 through which the contents of thecarton may be viewed.

Means are provided for retaining walls I2 and 16 I3 in an uprightposition and for closing the spaces between them so that the containermay be packed without raising the walls I4 and I5. For this purpose thewalls I2 and I3 areformed with extension flaps thereon indicated at I!and -20 It on wall I2, and at I9 and 20 on wall I3. Each of these flapsis provided with a suitable portion adapted to interlock with a similarportion on the cooperating flap. These interlocking portions areindicated at Ila, I8a, Ho. and 25 20a. After these flaps have beenengaged with each other the container will appear substantially asindicated in Fig. 3 and it is now ready to receive material. It isapparent that the interengaged pairs of fiaps constitute in effect 30primary side walls which are supplemented and strengthened by side wallpanels I4 and I5.

In order to form a. bottom closure one of the side walls, in-the presentinstance wall I4, is provided with an extension defined therefrom by 35a score line .and divided by means of another score line into twosections one of which, indicated at 22, constitutes the bottom and theother section, indicated at 23, provides an upturned edge portionadapted to cause the bottom panel 40 22 to be disposed in a plane offsetinwardly from the lower edges of the side walls of the carton. Means areprovided for retaining the bottom panel 22 in fixed position within thecarton. For this purpose cut-out portions or notches 24, 25, 45 and 26are preferably formed at the edges of the bottom panel 22 on its threefree sides. The side wall I 5 is provided with an extension 21 having acentrally disposed tongue 28 extending from its outer edge. Anadditional ex- 50 tension 29 is provided which is separated from themain extension 21 by means of a score line allowing it to be bent alonga line even with the base of the tongue 28. When the bottom panel 22 isin place, as indicated in Fig. 2, the tongue 55 edge of the bottom andthe side wall in which position it will lie within the groove 25 formedin the bottom 22, and the extension 29 is arranged to contact againstthe lower surface of the bottom 22. It is to be noted that the tongue28, when in place between the edge of the bottom and its adjacent sidewall, will prevent displacement of the extension 29 from its position incontact with the lower surface of the bottom. The walls l2 and I3preferably each have an extension thereon similar to that just describedfor thewall l5. The locking means on the wall I3 is indicated ascomprising parts 36, 3| and 32 and the locking ,means on the wall [2 isindicated as comprising parts 33, 34 and 35, these parts beingrespectively equivalent to parts 21,

28 and 29 previously described. The parts 3| and 34, in the set-upcondition of the carton, will be engaged in the cut-out portions 24 and26 and the parts 32 and 35 will be engaged on the undersurface of thebottom 22. See Fig. 2. In assembling this form of the container it isnot material which locking device is inserted first, thus the extension29 may overlap one or both of the extensions 32 and 35, or extension 29may be overlapped by.one or both of said extensions.

When the carton has been assembled as just described the materialcontained in the carton will prevent movement of the bottom upwardly inthe carton and the locking devices will prevent movement downwardly sothat, so long as the carton is filled with articles, there will be nolikelihood of the bottom-becoming accidentally displaced.

In the modified form of the invention, illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 'I,the carton is preferably formed to permit its capacity to be varied.Thus if it is desired to pack articles by weight or count and the volumeof such desired weight or count of articles should vary betweendifferent grades it will be possible to vary the volume of the carton sothat the walls of the container will closely engage the contents andprevent same from shifting within the container thereby preventinginjury to the contents.

As this form of the invention is also designed for upside down fillingit is to be understood that reference to the top panel means the panelwhich is normally underneath'during the packing operation; and referenceto the bottom panel means the panel which is above at the close ofpacking operation. When the packing operation is completed thecontaineLwill then be inverted and retained in this position duringfurther handling and shipment.

The modified carton is indicated as a whole by the numeral 46 andcomprises a top panel 4| to which walls, 43, and 45 are hingedlyconnected. A transparent window 46 is provided for top panel. 4|. Asillustrated in Fig. 7, the carton is preferably formed from a singleblank of paperboard, and, in the present instance, the walls are definedfrom the top panel by means of score lines, as indicated. In thisembodiment of the invention the walls 42 and 43 will for convenience betermed side walls, and the walls 44 and 45 will be termed end walls. Itis obvious, however, that the dimensions of the walls may be changedwithout altering the invention.

Means are provided for retaining the side walls 44 and 45 in one of aplurality of upright positions. For this purpose the side walls areprovided at their ends with extension flaps n, 43, 49 and 50. Theseextension flaps are each provided with notches 41a, 41b; 4812,4812; 49a,49b and 50a,

. 50b. The positions of the notches are such that tances of the notches48b and 5012 from thehinge connections of the flaps to their side walls.By this construction it is apparent that the lower edges of the sidewalls (that is, the edges remote from the top panel) will be disposedcloser or farther from each other dependent upon which set of notches isinterengaged. When the flaps 4B, 50 and 41, 49 are interengaged as justdescribed the carton will be ready to receive the contents which are tobe enclosed therein.

In order to close the bottom of the carton a bottom panel 52 is formedas an extension on one of the side walls, being, in the presentinstance, side wall 43. Between the bottom 52 and the side wall 43 isdisposed a portion 53 which, upon being bent over against the wall 43,will cause the hinge line of the bottom to be disposed below the edge'of the wall 43 as the carton is viewed in an upside down position.

As in the form of the invention first described, one or more sets oflocking means are provided on the edges of the remaining walls to retainthe edges of the bottom panel in a fixed position offset inwardly fromthe lower free edges of the walls. Forthis purpose the wall is providedwith an extension 54 defined from the wall 42 by a score line andcarrying tongues 55 and 56 thereon adapted to lie between the edge ofthe bottom panel and the inner face of side wall 42. Anadditionalextension 54a is provided on the portion 54 and is defined therefrom bya score line impressed in line with the bases of the tongues 55 and 56permitting the portion 54a to lie flat on the outer face of the bottompanel.

End walls 44 and 45 are provided with similar bottom locking portionswhich comprise extension 51, tongue 58 and extension 59 on wall 44; andextension 66, tongue GI and extension 62 on wall 45.

In order to facilitate the introduction of the tongues 55, 56, 58 and 6|between the edges of the bottom panel and the adjacent side walls thereis preferably formed in the bottom panel a plurality of cut out portionsor notches indicated respectively at 63, 64, 65 and 66. These notchesare equivalent to notches 24, 25 and 26 of the form first described.

Means are provided by which the bottom panel 52 can be formed narrower.For this purpose a score line 66a is impressed in the panel 52 back ashort distance from the free edge of the bottom to define a portion 61which may be bent over to lie against the side wall 42 in the set-upcondition of the box. The use of the portion 61 may best be understoodby comparison of Figs. and 6. In Fig. 6 the portion 61 is disposed inthe plane of the bottom panel 52, while in Fig. 5 the portion 61 isremoved from the plane of the bottom and lies against the side wall 42thus narrowing th panel-52 by the width of the portion 61.

In order to provide means by which tongues 55 and 56 may be engaged withthe bottom panel when formed in its narrow condition there are providedslits B8 and 69 preferably shaped in a similar manner to the cuts 54 and65 and having their ends terminating along the hinge line between thepanel 52 and the portion 61. Thus when the portion 61 is bentsubstantially at right angles to the panel 52 openings will be providedinto which the tongues 55 and 56 may enter. If

' and 62 lying on the outer surface of the desired, the portion 61 maybe completely severed from the bottom panel along line 66 when it isdesired to form a carton with the narrower width bottom.

In using the cartons illustrated in the Figs. 5,

6 and 7 the volume of the goods to be packed in the carton isdetermined, whereupon the side walls 42 and 43 will be bent upwardly andthe flaps 48, 50 and 41, 49 are engaged by interconnecting the notches48a and 50a and notches 41a and 49a, if the large size is required; or,if the smaller size is required, the notches 48b'and 50b, and 41b and49b will be engaged.

If the container is made'up for the larger volume the bottom panel 52will be left as indicated in Fig. 6, but if the carton is to be made upfor the smaller volume the portion 61 will be removed or folded to lieagainst the side wall 42 as indicated in Fig. 5. In either event thelocking devices on the remaining walls will be folded inwardly to engagethe tongues 55, 56, 58 and BI in between such walls and the edges of thebottom panel, The members or portions 54a, 59 and 62 will be folded tolie on the outer surface of the bottom panel as partially indicated inFigs. 5 and 6, and in a manner similar to that indicated in Fig. 2. Itis to be noted that the presence of extended portion 54a beneath thebottom 52, when used in its larger size, will tend to prevent bending ofthe bottom along score line 66 when the bottom "is supporting thecontents of the carton.

In preparing the blanks for any given type of commodity it is desirableto dimension the effective interior height of the carton so as to snuglyretain the material to be packed therein. By so doing, the bottom panel,after the container is filled, will come to rest on the contents atapproximately the proper level so that when the portions 5 3, 51 and 60are folded inwardly against their attached walls of the tongues 55, 56,58 and 6! will snap into place within the respective open ing 54, 65, 66and 63 with the portions 54a, 59 bottom panel 62.

Due to the use of the interconnected flaps l1, I9 and I8, 20, togetherwith p'anels id and i5, it is apparent that a very sturdy constructionof container is provided so that, if desired, the filled containers maybe stacked in piles of considerable height without likelihood ofcollapsing the container walls. The provision of the bottom lockingmeans on the ends of certain side walls which lockingmeans include aportion engaging the bottom (these portions being' indicated at 29, 32and 35, in Fig. 4) cause the bottom panel to be reinforced andstrengthened to such an extent that it is possible to use lighter stockin making up the cartons than it otherwise would be if these extendedflaps were not employed.

While the present description sets forth a preferred embodiment of theinvention, numerous changes may be made in the construction withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore desiredthat the present embodiment be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appendedclaims rather than to the foregoing de-' scription to indicate the scopeof the invention.

I claim:

1. A carton adapted to be assembled selectively so as to have one ofaplurality of different capacities and adapted to be filled in anupsidedown position, said carton comprising a rectangular top panel,side walls integrally hinged on opposite sides thereof, extension flapson the edges of said side walls, said extension flaps having two sets ofcooperating engaging portions of which one set only is adapted tocooperate at a given time, said sets of cooperating portions being sorelated to the flaps that one set will cause the lower edges of the sidewalls to be located closer together than will result when the other setof cooperating portions are engaged with each other, a bottom paneladapted to close the bottom of the box, and means for securing thebottom panel in place. I 2. A carton adapted to be assembled selectivelyso as to have one of a plurality of different vcapacities and adapted tobe filled in an upsidedown position, said carton comprising arectangular top panel, side walls integrally hinged on each sidethereof, extension flaps on the edges of two oppositely disposed of saidside walls, said extension flaps having two sets of cooperating engagingportions of which one set only is'adapted to cooperate at a given time,said sets of cooperating portions being so related to the flaps that oneset will cause the lower edges of the side walls to be located closertogetherthan willresult when the other set of cooperating portions areengaged with each other, a bottom panel adapted to close the bottom ofthe box, and means for securing the remaining side walls and the bottompanel in place.

3. A carton adapted to be assembled selectively so as to have one of aplurality of different capacities and adapted to be filled in anupsidedown position, said carton comprising a rectangular top panel,side walls integrally hinged on each side thereof, extension flaps onthe edges of two oppositely disposed of said side walls, said extensionflaps having two sets of cooperating engaging portions of which one setonly is adapted to cooperate at a given time, said sets of cooperatingportions being sorelated to the flaps that one set will cause the loweredges of the side walls to be,loc'ated closer together than will resultwhen the other set of cooperating portions are engaged'with each other,a bottom panel, means on the bottom panel for decreasing the effectivearea thereof to enable it to cooperate with the walls when same arelocated in positions adapted to decrease the volume of the carton, saidmeans comprising a readily foldable edge portion which, upon beingremoved from the plane of the bottom panel will permit the bottom panelto be fitted with respect to the walls in their reduced capacityposition, means on the side walls opposite the side wall supporting thebottom for retaining the free edge of the bottom in place, and means forsecuring the remaining side walls in place.

4. A carton adapted to be assembled selectively so as to have any of apluralityof different capacities comprising, a generally rectangular toppanel, side walls integrally hinged on opposite sides thereof, one pairof oppositely disposed side walls bearing interlocking flaps adapted tobe interengaged to hold said side walls in upright positions, one of theremaining pair of oppositely disposed side walls at its outer edgehaving an A inextension hinged thereto by one edge and adapted to form abottom, means on said extension for decreasing the effective areathereof, and means for decreasing the volume encompassed by the sidewalls in accordance with the decrease in e1- fective area of theextension.

5. A carton adapted to be assembled selectively so as to have any of aplurality of different capacities comprising, a generally rectangulartop panel, side wall panels integrally hinged along each edge of saidtop panel, interlocking means carried by certain of said side wallpanels for securing said walls in any of a plurality of predeterminedangular relationships with respect to said top panels, a bottom panelcarried by one of said side panels, and means for varying the efiectivearea of said bottom panel to accord with the predetermined angularpositions of said side in upright position, said means comprising a downturned flap extension on at least one of the remaining side walls, atongue part extended from its outer edge and inserted between the sidewall and the adjacent edge of the bottom panel and an additionalextension separated from the main extension by means of a score line andextending beyond and on each side of the tongue, said additionalextension being folded to lie flat against the lower face of the bot-'tom panel, whereby, when the carton has been filled with yieldablecontents, the bottom wall may be engaged in place between the contentsand the flap extension by moving the flap extension across the surfaceof the bottom wall until the tongue part snaps into place between thebottom and the side wall.

'7. A carton for retaining yieldable materials and adapted to be filledin an upside-down position, said carton comprising a rectangular topwall, four side walls associated therewith, means for engaging the sidewalls in container-forming position, a bottom panel hingedly associatedwith one of the side walls along a line spaced inwardly from the loweredge of said side wall and being provided with a shallow notch in anedge thereof, and means for retaining and supporting the bottom panel inposition above the lower edges of the side walls when the carton hasbeen placed in upright position, said means comprising a flap extensionon at least one of the remaining side walls, said flap extensioncomprising a tongue part inserted into the space provided between thenotched edge of the bottom, wall and the adjacent side wall, said flapextension also including another part extending beyond the tongue andfolded to lie flat against the lower face of the bottom panel, whereby,when the carton has been filled with yieldable contents, the bottom wallmay. be engaged in place between the contents'and the flap extension bymoving the flap extension across the surface of the bottom wall untilthe tongue part snaps into the space provided by, the above mentionednotch in the edge of the bottom wall.

8. A carton for retaining yieldable materials and adapted to be filledin an upside-down position, said carton comprising a rectangular topwall, four. side .walls associated therewith, means for engaging theside wall panels in containerforming position, a bottom panel hingedlyassociated with one of the side walls along a line spaced inwardly fromthe lower edge of said side wall and being provided with a shallow notchin an edge thereof, and means forretaining and supporting the bottompanel in position above the lower edges of the side walls when thecarton has been placed in upright position, said means comprising a flapextension on at least one of the remaining side walls, said flapextension comprising a centrally disposed, rigid tongue part insertedinto the space provided between the notched edge of the bottom wall andthe adjacent side wall, said flap extension also including another part,extending beyond and on each side of the tongue part, and folded to lieflat against the lower face of the bottom panel, whereby, when thecarton has been filled with yieldable contents, the bottom wall may beengaged in place between the contents and the flap extension by movingthe flap extension across the surface of the bottom wall until theybottom wall.

ROY E. LOWEY.

